On the evening of April 23, 96 sophomores, juniors, and seniors sporting dresses and suits one by one crossed the stage in the North Point auditorium; smiles of triumph clear on their faces. When all names had finally been called, with the coveted torch in hand, the new inductees recited the pledge as they were officially inducted into the National Honor Society.

Getting inducted into the National Honor Society (NHS) is no easy feat, and requires nominated students to go through a rigorous application process to be selected. Students must maintain at least 3.75 grade point average or higher throughout high school, and meet additional qualifications in four different areas: scholarship, leadership, service, and character. Additionally, students were asked to have at least two letters of community service with their application.  On top of that, teachers were asked for feedback to see how the students perform in the classroom. 

Putting together a personal resume, getting recommendation letters, and maintaining their other responsibilities all with a deadline looming over them proved to be stressful for some students.  “The most stressful part of the application was community service, because I wasn’t sure if I had enough hours or recommendations,” stated Natalie Arimah (’15), one of this year’s inductees.  

Despite the hardships, the feeling of finally being accepted was the best part of the experience for many. “I’m happy I was accepted into NHS because it took a lot of work to get in and I’m proud of myself,” Arimah concluded. 

The induction ceremony, in the words of the NHS sponsor Ms. McLaughlin, was “Awesome.”

“The parent support for the inductees was outstanding, almost four-hundred people came out to support our inductees this year; more than ever before,” McLaughlin enthused. 

As the ceremony ended, the inductees all went to show their relatives what years of hard work, good grades, and a few extra-curricular activities can bring.